People considering purchasing a dirt bike should first consider the answers to several questions before making the plunge. How long have they been riding? Do they they ride competitively or for fun? And are they planning to do trail riding or motocross?

There are two types of dirt bike riding: trail riding and motocross, said Rick Sigel, owner of Planet Dirt in Plympton. Trail riding bikes are quieter than motocross bikes which are loud and powerful with stronger suspensions, he said.

Most dirt bike merchants do not offer test rides. Managers at Weymouth Honda and Pilgrim Power Sports both recommend taking a dirt bike riding class at an instructional facility before buying a bike to learn safety guidelines and the fundamentals of riding.

Small 50-cc bikes are ideal for children’s lessons, Sigel said. Proper safety equipment includes a helmet, gloves, boots and goggles.

Dirt bikes range in price from $1,000 to $6,000, according to Bob Santheson, manager of Pilgrim Power Sports in Plymouth. Smaller 65-cc bikes are for children while a 450-cc bike is for experienced adult riders. Adult dirt bikes start around $2,000.

Both new and used dirt bikes are available at most shops. Used bikes offer a lower-cost option for beginners, according to Santheson.

“People who are new at riding frequently buy used bikes,” he said.

Plymouth has become a dirt biking hub in eastern Massachusetts even though it is illegal to ride them in most areas, Santheson said. So it’s wise to learn the rules as well as the skills before considering a purchase.

Riding dirt bikes is legal in state forests in Foxboro, Franklin and Wrentham. Freetown State Forest and several areas in the Berkshires also allow off-highway motorcycles to be used according to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website.

“Good dirt bike trails are like local fishing holes,” Sigel said, people who know good spots are not likely to divulge them. “A lot of people bring their bikes to New Hampshire where the state welcomes riders to their 40,000 square miles of dirt biking paths.”